New insights into stem cell biology are expected to arise from the elaboration of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models, so-called artificial stem cell niche. Cell-instructive synthetic biomaterials, in particular hydrogel scaffolds that display physicochemical properties reminiscent of the native cellular microenvironment and can be engineered to present essential biological cues, offer great promises for applications in tissue engineering. With the growing capabilities to manipulate the characteristics of these scaffolds, it has become highly impractical to manually test all the possible combinations; therefore, merging advanced biomaterials with high throughput methods is necessary to systematically probe the role of biophysical and biochemical components on stem cell fate and uncover key stem cell behavioural effectors. To address this challenge, we have developed a combinatorial high throughput biomaterial screening process. Our rapid biomaterial discovery pipeline includes: (i) hydrogel precursor biomaterial library synthesis, (ii) integrated combinatorial cell-laden hydrogel micro-particle generation and (iii) automated long-term 3D stem cell culture, differentiation and high content screening. This method will enable rapid discovery in biomaterials by allowing the identification of unique hydrogel formulations capable of directing stem cell fate into defined differentiation outcomes.

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Steffen Cosson

CSIRO Australia

Steffen is a bioengineer and specializes in multi-disciplinary approaches, combining advanced biomaterials, microfluidics and laboratory automation, to address complex stem cell biology problems. He obtained his M.Sc. degree in Bioengineering and Biotechnology at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), in Switzerland, in 2008, as part of the first class ever graduating from EPFL’s School of Life Sciences. He received his PhD degree from the Institute of Bioengineering at EPFL under the supervision of Professor Matthias P. Lutolf, in 2012. During his PhD, he designed and validated novel hydrogel microfluidic devices for (i) gradient micro-patterning on hydrogel biomimetic substrates and (ii) delivery of soluble factor gradient to cell aggregate microarrays, demonstrating spatial control over stem cell differentiation. Following a short postdoctoral research transition period in the same laboratory, in which he devised a versatile multi-layer microfluidic device rapid prototyping technique relying on xurography and laser micromachining, he joined as a postdoctoral fellow in a joint appointment between the AIBN (UQ) and Manufacturing (CSIRO) under the OCE Science Leader grant to Professor Justin J. Cooper-White. Since then he has been working on combinatorial high throughput biomaterial synthesis, screening and assessment for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.